Page 60 of Rematch
Max followed me under the covers. He scooted through the distance between us and pressed himself against my back. His arm slithered over my hip and hooked around my waist. Pulling me closer, he pressed his face into the nook of my neck.
I had half a mind to shove him away and tell him to keep his hands to himself. But, the nostalgia from his hold prevented me from doing so. His arm, though larger and stronger now, still carried the same security and warmth as it did when we were young.
I practically deflated as the stress and anxiety flew out of me like air leaving a balloon. I knew it’ll be back tomorrow, filling me up damn near to the point of explosion. So, for tonight, I allowed myself to relish in the safe space his arms provided.
“Max,” I murmured.
“Hm?” His chest rumbled against my back.
“How bad did you kick his ass?”
“Not too bad,” he admitted. “Nothing’s broken.”
I shook my head. “You know winning that fight tonight doesn’t change anything, right?”
“I know. But I’m willing to put the work in. You’re worth every bit of it.”
I didn’t fight the smile tugging at my lips. “Goodnight, Max.”
He squeezed me tighter. “Goodnight, Audrey.”
Chapter 24
Max
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
The obnoxious vibrating of a phone woke me out of a deep sleep. Groaning, I tightened my grasp around the body beside me. I pressed my face into her neck, inhaling the sweet floral scent of her perfume. It smelled like the one Audrey used to wear all the time.
Wait…
“Audrey?” I murmured, her name slipping from my lips as my eyes popped open. I picked my head up and looked down at the women beside me to make sure it was the one I was thinking of. I remember coming to her house after my fight. Her soft hands on my skin as she patched me up. The look on her face when I came clean about the shit I’ve gotten myself into.
Everything after was a bit of a blur. By then, my body was too tired and sore to stay alert. Usually, it starts running on auto-pilot, and I’m back in my own bed by the time I’m running it manually again.
I had no idea I’d still be in her bed, holding her.
Sleeping peacefully in my arms, she blew out tiny snores. The sunlight creeping in through the window brushed over her cheeks, casting a golden glow over her brown skin. The tinyfreckles splattered across her nose and upper cheek glimmered underneath it.
Sighing, I lay my head back down, pressed my nose in the crook between her neck and shoulder, and squeezed her tight. I wasn’t sure if she’d ever let me hold her like this again, so I needed to make the most of it.
My phone blared again on the nightstand near the opposite side of the bed, cutting the moment short.
Reluctantly, I turned onto my side to grab it. I was going to turn it off until I saw my father’s name across the screen. “What?” I murmured as I answered, keeping my voice as low as possible to not wake Audrey.
“Meet me at my spot,” my father barked. “Now.” He hung up before I could reply.
Bastard, I thought as my arm flopped back down against the bed. He would be the one to ruin the moment I was trying to have.
I looked at Audrey’s back and debated staying for a few minutes longer. But, my dad sounded like he already had an attitude, and I wasn’t in the mood to hear his mouth if being late made it worse.
I slid out of the bed and grabbed my clothes off the floor. Quietly, I pulled on my shirt and pants. As I stepped into my shoes, I heard the soft rustle of the covers. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Audrey rolling over in her bed.
Only a sliver of her amber irises were visible in her narrowed gaze. “Max?” She whispered groggily. “Where are you going?”
“I have some errands to run.”
“But, you need to rest. Your body-”
